OT! Kids and the Military

Seems that every time someone past about problems with kids that are of legal age someone always says the military will set em straight. You guys are living in the dark ages!

1. The military is not a daycare for your lazy brats!

2. It isn't like the good old days anymore. Drill Sgts can't touch a kid, call them names or anything else. Being a Drill SGT today is one of the best ways to ruin your career! One little mistake like calling a kid a s@@@ head can see you relieved of duties and a performance eval that will stop promotions for a very long time.

3. If your kid makes it thought training (drill Sgt's are only allowed to can about 10% so they let kids pass who they would like to get rid of but because they hit the 10% can't) once in a regular unit it's very easy to kick them out. They made it really easy back in the early 80's. Just a little paperwork and it's "pack a sandwich and a map" cause they are going home. DUI's, bad checks (3 in 6 months), non payment of debts and just in general poor perfoamance are all grounds for discharge. They ain't going to waste time making your kid an adult, they are going to send em back home so you can try.

4. We have people in country with bad guys shooting at them and planting IED's. By what right do you have to send your lazy bum to be an added burden to these fine young men and women?

Rick (US Army, Armor, Retired)

Actually getting into the military is where a lot of them are weeded out. 5 years ago guys my age were able to join - now if you have a criminal record or lousy grades in school they don't want or need you. Good soldiers with good records are being forced out in the current RIF, last thing they want to do is replace them with some degenerates that can't get out of bed on a regular basis.

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In sharp contrast to the peak years of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, the Army last year took in no recruits with misconduct convictions or drug or alcohol issues, according to internal documents obtained by The Associated Press. And soldiers already serving on active duty now must meet tougher standards to stay on for further tours in uniform.

The Army is also spending hundreds of thousands of dollars less in bonuses to attract recruits or entice soldiers to remain.

It's all part of an effort to slash the size of the active duty Army from about 570,000 at the height of the Iraq war to 490,000 by 2017. The cutbacks began last year, and as of the end of March the Army was down to less than 558,000 troops.


Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/05/23/us-army-more-selective-on-recruits-re-enlistments/#ixzz2IcqprQxb

You my friend are not only right but i agree
completely .

Well said.

A good percentage of young people with "motivational issues" are using some sort of illegal drugs. They'll never be accepted into the military today without first getting clean.

I didn't know it was that bad in the military. I knew there was a complete lack of discipline in the countries schools but I didn't know this abundant idea had infected the military as well. I could have pictured myself as one that would say the military would set them straight.

Well said!

I've long said the military is not a reform school. Anyone who says an abnoxious brat needs to join the military hasn't been there themselves.

It;s not like it used to be. I remember during WWII judges gave convicts of minor offences the choice of serving in the army or going to jail.
In those days "blanket parties" were unofficially sanctioned. A kid I went to school with was an obsolute useless POS. When it became apparent he was not going to graduate he joined the navy for four years. When he came home no one could believe the change. A very fine young gentleman, spittin' image of his father who was indeed a fine gentleman. I suspect he got a few "attitude adjustments" long the way. He proved "Growing old is manditory, growing up is optional". Fortunately he chose the option. Now my grandkids don't even know what a "blanket party" is. They are a neccessary evil in my book.

JMHO

Areo

4 years in the Navy was really good for my youngest. Even good for Ole dad! I got to go on a Tiger Cruise on his ship.

The military will also not take young folks nowdays with problems. If they have an arrest record, drug or alcohol problems or even conspicious tattos, they will not accept them.

Gene

I agree.

The military is an opportunity, not a punishment.

Well said Rick

Aero your post reminds me of a kid from my home town. His mother was unwed, he ran the streets and was in petty trouble from early childhood and finally dropped out of school. This was in the mid-sixties. From what I understand he was finally given the choice of prison or enter the service. He chose the service. I don't know if he was in Vietnam or not. A few years later I saw him at a ball game and he was changed into a perfect gentleman. Jim

(quoted from post at 18:08:41 01/21/13) I agree.

The military is an opportunity, not a punishment.

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agree also, David. As oldtanker pretty much said, the military is not a reform school. Back in the Viet Nam days, some soldiers were given the choice of enlisting or going to jail, according to what I was told by the Army troops I met in Viet Nam. Serving was certainly an opportunity for me. I learned aircraft maintenance and discipline and maybe most important of all, to improvise, adopt and overcome anything.

I spent 17 years recruiting for the U.S. Army.
I did not waste my time on anyone who needed a waiver to get into the Army. All those people who were a problem in the civilian environment were a big problem in the military.
I would love to see what some of those people are doing now that told me to forget it.
Boy did I ever hear stories from them on what they were going to do with their life.
I usually heard that they were going their own business so they did not have to work. I usually told them good luck!
Brian

I agree , The last four years I as in , it had gotten so bad thar I actually had to go to the barracks wake them up & ask if they were planning on working . Thats when I decided that I would retire , told them if I wanted a Baby sitting job I could Baby set at Home .
When I was in you never missed s formayion unless you wer in the Hospital . Tey didn t catter to your every whim.

John

Don't happen any more. Neighbor kid tried to enlist, but a dui kept him out. A 2nd dui, they threw his file away.

Tell ya tanker, we mentioned this the other day, but when I first saw the 'oath taker' thing... 25% would defend their homes, 25 would serious attack people in their own community, and the other 50% 'didn't care'... holy cow... even if the polls are off by 50% that is a dangerous generation of mean green machines... and I heard something about 'West Point Staffers' outlook on the 'dangerous elements of American society'... which sounded like they were worried about people of YT forums... so what's the next shoe to drop here???
We certainly can't replace them all with mercinaries, that might be jumping out of the frying pan...
I just mentioined the Roman Empire on another thread...hummmm

(quoted from post at 10:45:41 01/21/13) Tell ya tanker, we mentioned this the other day, but when I first saw the 'oath taker' thing... 25% would defend their homes, 25 would serious attack people in their own community, and the other 50% 'didn't care'... holy cow... even if the polls are off by 50% that is a dangerous generation of mean green machines... and I heard something about 'West Point Staffers' outlook on the 'dangerous elements of American society'... which sounded like they were worried about people of YT forums... so what's the next shoe to drop here???
We certainly can't replace them all with mercinaries, that might be jumping out of the frying pan...
I just mentioined the Roman Empire on another thread...hummmm

Click to expand...

Tony, depends on who they ask and what they ask. I still talk to some people who are active duty (formerly my soldiers now the leaders). They tell me that not many believe that any poll giving to soldiers is really anonymous and respond accordingly.

My thoughts are, 35% are boot licker's who will answer what ever they think the brass wants to hear.

35% are just going to respond with what ever they think without thought about possible consequences.

50% don't trust the brass enought to respond when given the the "gone of the above/no comment" option.

50% don't care? I find that hard to believe considering that it's an all volinteer military.

Rick

When I was in basic in 1960, we had a real trouble maker....wouldn't help clean barracks, always stealing things from others, always filhy, wouldn't drill correctly, etc. The DI finally got so fed up he came to me and another squad leader and said if we would beat the crap out of the guy he would back us up by saying the guy fell down a stairway or something. The DI couldn't actually touch him by rules! I and the other squad leader told the trouble maker what was coming as we were taking him outside that night. He straightened up right then and never was a problem again.

Some guys wouldn't take showers, so we gave them a "GI shower"...their skin was as red as can be without bleeding but they were clean.

One big slob was always lipping off...a big fight in the showers with him bleeding and crying took care of that. Clean up was easy in the showers!

Now I have a nephew who applied to get into the Army but they won't take him because of his record. Too bad. Doubt if he ever will become a good man.
We had lots of guys who were model soldiers after a local judge had told them it was jail or the Army.

LA in WI

Things may have changed since 79, but a
majority of the lifers could not sweep a
floor without a higher up person telling
them to do so. There was exceptions,
but a DI was no different than a new cop
on the block that finaly can pack heat.
They were often the kids in school who
got bullied, and now they have some
power. Education and job skills are a
big plus, and have made alot of men
good profuctive folks. But basic
training isnt real combat so the bars and
stripes mean power. In combat all the
power fades fast, or they wear a flag
draped box home. I had a few guys
that the judge gave a option, and they
would cover my rear if it was down to
survival. You have to have some one
in charge, but ( in your face), meant
probably in his back if his orders was
going to get you all killed. I sure wish
I had a chance to serve with a few of my
DIs in the universaty of RVN. where rank
meant little till you got behind wire, then
we play acted for the lifers. I have to
admit my life was not as important as a
young soilder as it is now. Funny how
gray, fat and bald makes you change
your way of looking at things.
The Army could have cut the waste by
25-50% back when I was in, and never
missed a beat. Talking to some boys
back from Afganistan, things are about
the same.

I'm a veteran with 5 1/2 years of active military service in the USAF...was a jet bomber mechanic/crew chief back in the 1950's. Anyway, I Thank Each and Every Man and Woman who serves and has served my country in the current military service. I am deeply concerned over the high rate of suicide in our military. Something isn't right...in fact a lot of things aren't right anymore in our military...and in our country too. I think most of us on this board know that and know we should be doing more to correct it. So let's all try to be better citizens and then maybe we can expect a better military too. JMHO you understand.